Report from the First National Summit on Mass Violence Victims and Survivors

It is essential to provide individuals, agencies, and communities with evidence-based resources and roadmaps to ensure that they can effectively address mass violence response and recovery in a culturally responsive manner.

We are better together. Mass violence is too big a problem for any one person, agency, or organization to solve, but we can make great progress by working together to share information, find common ground, and forge collaborative solutions.

It is essential that behavioral/mental health resources in preparation and response are culturally-and linguistically- appropriate; evidence-based and include an awareness of complex grief and the short- and long-term impact of MVIs on victims, survivors and first responders.

Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. Engaging in preparedness activities with partners is essential to bringing a wholistic, trauma informed, survivor centric approach to supporting victims and survivors of a mass violence incident.

It’s always a pleasure to quote one of my sheroes, Shirley Chisholm: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” VSPs and B/MH professionals need to assert their value, expertise, and experience to ALL MV preparation and response teams!